Call hang time indicator for an electronic communications device

ABSTRACT

An electronic communications device including a transceiver, a touch screen display, and an electronic processor and a method for controlling same. The method includes generating, with the electronic processor, a graphical user interface including a soft push-to-talk button and a call hang time indicator, indicating visually a call hang time, in proximity to the soft push-to-talk button. The method also includes displaying the graphical user interface on the touch screen display, receiving, from the touch screen display, a first input selecting the soft push-to-talk button, and, in response to receiving the first input, establishing a push-to-talk channel via the transceiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some electronic communications devices, such as mobile telephones andtwo-way radios, provide push-to-talk functionality. Push-to-talk is amethod of transmitting audio communications over a half-duplexcommunication channel. Some electronic communications devices include amechanical input mechanism to place the communication device into thetransmit mode and the reception mode. Some networks that allowpush-to-talk communication implement a call hang time (that is, the timeperiod after a push-to-talk transmission has ended, during which thepush-to-talk channel is reserved for further transmission of audiocommunications). In such networks, the expiration of the call hang timemay be indicated by an audio cue, such as a beep. As an alternative toor in addition to the mechanical input mechanisms, an electroniccommunications device may generate and display a graphical userinterface that includes “soft” push-to-talk buttons on a touch screen.The graphical user interface may eliminate the need for mechanical inputmechanisms and their respective call hang time indicators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications system including an electroniccommunications device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the electronic communications device from thesystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an electroniccommunications device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a graphical user interface for the portable electronic deviceof FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a call hang time indicator for thegraphical user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a graphical user interface for the portable electronic deviceof FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate call hang time indicators for the graphicaluser interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 illustrate a dynamic push-to-talk button for thegraphical user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

. Embodiments presented herein provide, among other things, a call hangtime indicator for a graphical user interface of an electroniccommunications device.

One example embodiment provides an electronic communications device. Thedevice includes a transceiver, a touch screen display, and an electronicprocessor electrically coupled to the transceiver and the touch screendisplay. The electronic processor is configured to generate a graphicaluser interface including a soft push-to-talk button and a call hang timeindicator. In one example, the call hang time indicator visuallyindicates or presents a call hang time in proximity to the softpush-to-talk button. The electronic processor is also configured todisplay the graphical user interface on the touch screen display. Theelectronic processor is configured to receive, from the touch screendisplay, a first input selecting the soft push-to-talk button. Theelectronic processor is also configured to in response to receiving thefirst input, establish a push-to-talk channel via the transceiver.

Another example embodiment provides a method for controlling anelectronic communications device including a transceiver, a touch screendisplay, and an electronic processor. The method includes generating,with the electronic processor, a graphical user interface including asoft push-to-talk button and a call hang time indicator, indicatingvisually a call hang time, in proximity to the soft push-to-talk button.The method includes displaying the graphical user interface on the touchscreen display. The method includes receiving, from the touch screendisplay, a first input selecting the soft push-to-talk button. Themethod includes in response to receiving the first input, establishing apush-to-talk channel via the transceiver.

For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presentedherein are illustrated with a single exemplar of each of its componentparts. Some examples may not describe or illustrate all components ofthe systems. Other example embodiments may include more or fewer of eachof the illustrated components, may combine some components, or mayinclude additional or alternative components.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications system 100. In the exampleillustrated, the communications system 100 includes an electroniccommunications device 102, a second electronic communications device104, a third electronic communications device 106, a network 108, and anetwork controller 110. The electronic communications device 102, thesecond electronic communications device 104, and the third electroniccommunications device 106 are communicatively coupled via the network108. The network 108 is a communications network including wireless andwired connections. The network 108 may be implemented using a landmobile radio (LMR) network, a cellular network (for example, a Long TermEvolution (LTE) network), or a combination of both. However, theconcepts and techniques embodied and described herein may be used withnetworks using other protocols, for example, Global System for MobileCommunications (or Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM)) networks, Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) networks, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO)networks, Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) networks, 3Gnetworks, 4G networks, combinations or derivatives thereof, and othersuitable networks, including future-developed networks. As described indetail below, the electronic communications device 102, the secondelectronic communications device 104, and the third electroniccommunications device 106 transmit and receive voice and othercommunications types via the network 108. In some embodiments,communications with other external devices (not shown) occur over thenetwork 108.

The electronic communications device 102, the second electroniccommunications device 104, and the third electronic communicationsdevice 106 communicate with each other using, among other modes,push-to-talk half-duplex voice communications.

The electronic communications device 102, described more particularlybelow with respect to FIG. 2, is a wireless communication device thatincludes hardware and software that enable it to communicate via thenetwork 108. As described in detail below, the electronic communicationsdevice 102 includes a touch screen display, which displays a graphicaluser interface 114, including a soft push-to-talk button 116.

The second electronic communications device 104 and the third electroniccommunications device 106 are configured and operate similarly to theelectronic communications device 102 and include, or are capable ofbeing coupled to, a network modem or components to enable wirelessnetwork communications (such as an amplifier, antenna, and the like),including push-to-talk communications, via the network 108.

The network controller 110 includes one or more computer systemssuitable for controlling the operation of the network 108. In someembodiments, the network controller is capable of assigning theelectronic communications device 102, the second electroniccommunications device 104, and the third electronic communicationsdevice 106, or combinations thereof to one or more talk groups andfacilitating communications therebetween. For example, the networkcontroller 110 may, upon receiving a request from one of thecommunications devices, establish push-to-talk channels between two ormore communications devices based on talk group identifiers, deviceidentifiers, or both. In some embodiments, push-to-talk communicationsoccurs between the communications devices without the involvement of thenetwork controller 110.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of the electronic communicationsdevice 102. In the embodiment illustrated, the electronic communicationsdevice 102 includes an electronic processor 205, a memory 210, aninput/output interface 215, a baseband processor 220, a transceiver 225,an antenna 230, and the touch screen display 112. The illustratedcomponents, along with other various modules and components are coupledto each other by or through one or more control or data buses thatenable communication therebetween. The use of control and data buses forthe interconnection between and exchange of information among thevarious modules and components would be apparent to a person skilled inthe art in view of the description provided herein.

The electronic processor 205 obtains and provides information (forexample, from the memory 210 and/or the input/output interface 215), andprocesses the information by executing one or more software instructionsor modules, capable of being stored, for example, in a random accessmemory (“RAM”) area of the memory 210 or a read only memory (“ROM”) ofthe memory 210 or another non-transitory computer readable medium (notshown). The software can include firmware, one or more applications,program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and otherexecutable instructions. The electronic processor 205 is configured toretrieve from the memory 210 and execute, among other things, softwarerelated to the control processes and methods described herein.

The memory 210 can include one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia, and includes a program storage area and a data storage area. Theprogram storage area and the data storage area can include combinationsof different types of memory, as described herein. In the embodimentillustrated, the memory 210 stores, among other things, data andinstructions for generating the graphical user interface (GUI) 114 andthe soft push-to-talk (PTT) button 116 (described in detail below).

The input/output interface 215 is configured to receive input and toprovide output to peripherals. The input/output interface 215 obtainsinformation and signals from, and provides information and signals to,(for example, over one or more wired and/or wireless connections)devices both internal and external to the electronic communicationsdevice 102.

The electronic processor 205 is configured to control the basebandprocessor 220 and the transceiver 225 to transmit and receive voice andother data to and from the electronic communications device 102. Thebaseband processor 220 encodes and decodes digital data sent andreceived by the transceiver 225, including push-to-talk audiocommunications. The transceiver 225 transmits and receives radio signalsto and from various wireless communications networks (for example, thenetwork 108) using the antenna 230. The electronic processor 205, thebaseband processor 220, and the transceiver 225 may include variousdigital and analog components, which for brevity are not describedherein and which may be implemented in hardware, software, or acombination of both. Some embodiments include separate transmitting andreceiving components, for example, a transmitter and a receiver, insteadof a combined transceiver 225.

The electronic communications device 102 implements the graphical userinterface 114, generated by the electronic processor 205, frominstructions and data stored in the memory 210, and presented on thetouch screen display 112. The touch screen display 112 is a suitabletouch-sensitive interface display such as, for example, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) touch screen, or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)touch screen. The touch screen display 112 displays output and receivesuser input using detected physical contact (for example, via detectedcapacitance or resistance). The graphical user interface 114 isdescribed in detail below with respect to FIGS. 3 through 13.

In some embodiments, the electronic communications device 102 is a smarttelephone. In other embodiments, the electronic communications device102 may be a tablet computer, a smart watch, a portable radio, acombination of the foregoing, or another portable or mobile electronicdevice containing software and hardware enabling it to operate asdescribed herein.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the second electroniccommunications device 104 and the third electronic communications device106 are configured and operate similarly to the electroniccommunications device 102 and may include similar components asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example method 300 for controlling the electroniccommunications device 102. The method 300 is described with respect toFIGS. 4 through 13, which illustrate embodiments of the graphical userinterface 114 and the soft push-to-talk button 116 displayed on thetouch screen display 112 of the electronic communications device 102.The method 300 is described as being performed by the electroniccommunications device 102 and, in particular, the electronic processor205. The method 300 is described in terms of a single soft push-to-talkbutton 116. However, the methods described herein are applicable to oneor more soft push-to-talk buttons in a single graphical user interfaceand may be implemented on or with multiple electronic processors.

At block 302, the electronic processor 205 generates the graphical userinterface 114, which enables a user to interact with the electroniccommunications device 102 via the touch screen display 112. In someembodiments, the electronic processor 205 may retrieve and executeinstructions from the memory 210 to generate and display the graphicaluser interface 114 on the touch screen display 112 (block 304). Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the graphical user interface 114 includes thesoft push-to-talk button 116. The soft push-to-talk button 116 may beused by a user of the electronic communications device 102 to controlpush-to-talk communications. Push-to-talk communication may be betweenone individual and another individual or between one individual and agroup of individuals (for example, via a talk group).

The soft push-to-talk button 116, when selected (for example, by a usertouching or pressing the soft push-to-talk button 116 on the touchscreen display 112) causes the electronic processor 205 to establish apush-to-talk communications channel via the transceiver 225. Selectionof the soft push-to-talk button 116 also causes transmission of an audiocommunication from the electronic communications device 102 to one ormore other devices (for example, the second electronic communicationsdevice 104 and the third electronic communications device 106). When thesoft push-to-talk button 116 is unselected (for example, by a userremoving the touch or press from the soft push-to-talk button 116, orperforming some other gesture on the touch screen display 112), thetransceiver 225 is placed into a reception mode to receive a response tothe audio communication. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 4,soft push-to-talk buttons may visually indicate the target of thepush-to-talk channel activated when the buttons are selected. Forexample, the soft push-to-talk button 116 depicts a single user.Selecting the soft push-to-talk button 116 establishes a push-to-talkchannel with a device of that user. In another example, the softpush-to-talk button 402 depicts a group of users. Selecting the softpush-to-talk button 402 establishes a push-to-talk channel with thedevices of those users (for example, with a talk group including theuser of the electronic communications device 102 and the users depictedon the soft push-to-talk button 402).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the graphical user interface 114 also includesa call hang time indicator 502 in proximity to the soft push-to-talkbutton 116. As noted above, in some embodiments, push-to-talkcommunications may be coordinated by the network controller 110. Forexample, the network controller 110, upon receiving a request from theelectronic communications device 102, may establish a push-to-talkcommunications channel for use by the transceiver 225. A call hang timeis a time period (after a push-to-talk transmission has ended), duringwhich the push-to-talk channel remains available to the transceiver 225for transmission of audio communications. For example, when apush-to-talk channel is setup for communications between members of atalk group, the call hang time reserves the channel for members of thetalk group for a time after each transmission. This prevents non-talkgroup users from interrupting the talk group users and produces smootherconversation.

The call hang time indicator 502 visually indicates the call hang time.In some embodiments, the call hang time indicator 502 is generated bythe electronic processor 205, but not displayed until a push-to-talktransmission has ended and a subsequent call hang time period has begun.In other embodiments, the call hang time indicator 502 is displayedcontinuously, and changes form to show that a call hang time is active.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the call hang time indicator 502may be an outline or a ring around the soft push-to-talk button 116. Insome embodiments, the outline may not appear until a push-to-talktransmission has ended. In other embodiments, the outline may appear inone color or pattern to indicate that a call hang time is possible forpush-to-talk transmissions, and in another color or pattern to indicatethat a call hang time period is active.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the call hang timeindicator includes a numeric representation of the call hang time (forexample, at least one digit superimposed on the soft push-to-talk button116), indicating the duration of the call hang time period. In someembodiments, the at least one digit may be proximate to the softpush-to-talk button 116 (for example, positioned near the top, bottom,or sides of the button), rather than superimposed on it.

In some embodiments, the call hang time indicator 502 may be acharacteristic of the soft push-to-talk button 116 itself. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 7, the size of the soft push-to-talk button 116may be used to indicate the call hang time. For example, the softpush-to-talk button 116 may be larger than other soft push-to-talkbuttons in the graphical user interface 114. In another embodiment, thecolors of the soft push-to-talk button 116 may be altered to indicate acall hang time. For example, the button may be displayed inphotonegative, or a color (for example, in the form of a glow, a shade,or a hue) may be applied to the button.

Returning to FIG. 3, at block 306, the electronic processor 205receives, from the touch screen display 112, a first input 802 selectingthe soft push-to-talk button 116 (See FIG. 8). As illustrated, the firstinput 802 is a single-finger touch (or tap) input. In other embodiments,the first input 802 (and other inputs described herein) may be asingle-finger long touch input, a single-finger press input, adouble-finger tap input, a double-finger press input, or anothersuitable gesture-based input.

At block 308, in response to receiving the first input 802, theelectronic processor 205 establishes a push-to-talk channel via thetransceiver 225. As noted above, in some embodiments, the electronicprocessor 205 establishes the push-to-talk channel through the networkcontroller 110. While the soft push-to-talk button is selected, audiocommunications from the electronic communications device 102 aretransmitted by the transceiver 225 over the push-to-talk channel to oneor more devices using the push-to-talk channel (for example, the secondelectronic communications device 104 and the third electroniccommunications device 106).

At block 310, the electronic processor 205 receives, from the touchscreen display 112, a second input unselecting the soft push-to-talkbutton 116. In some embodiments, the second input may be the end of thefirst input 802 (for example, a single-finger long touch ends when theuser desires to stop transmitting audio communications). In otherembodiments, the second input may be another gesture (for example, asecond touch or press detected on the soft push-to-talk button 116, orelsewhere on the touch screen display 112). Regardless of the type ofinput, the electronic processor 205 is configured to interpret thesecond input as a request to cease push-to-talk transmission on thepush-to-talk channel established by selection of the soft push-to-talkbutton 116.

At block 312, the electronic processor 205, in response to receiving thesecond input, sets a countdown timer to the call hang time. The callhang time is predetermined and may be different for each push-to-talkchannel. The call hang time(s) may be stored in the memory 210, receivedfrom the network controller 110, or both. The electronic processor 205utilizes the countdown timer to track the call hang time remainingbefore the push-to-talk channel is no longer available to thetransceiver 225. When the call hang time is expired (the countdown timerreaches zero), the electronic processor 205 must re-establish thepush-to-talk channel prior to transmitting audio communications.

At block 314, the electronic processor 205 visually alters the call hangtime indicator 502 based on a value of the countdown timer. Visuallyaltering the call hang time indicator 502 indicates to a user of theelectronic communications device 102 the remaining call hang time. Insome embodiments, for example, where the call hang time indicator 502 isan outline of the soft push-to-talk button 116, the electronic processor205 adjusts at least one of a size and a color of the outline based onthe value of the countdown timer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9,the call hang time indicator 502 is a circular progress indicator bar,surrounding the soft push-to-talk button 116. The whole of the call hangtime indicator 502 represents total call hang time for the establishedpush-to-talk channel. The call hang time indicator 502 is adjusted (thatis, updated) based on the value of the countdown timer (that is, howmuch call hang time is remaining). In the illustrated embodiment, thecall hang time indicator 502 is adjusted by decreasing the progress barproportionally to the current value of the countdown timer, therebyindicating the remaining call hang time. In some embodiments, the callhang time indicator 502 may change form to indicate the remaining callhang time. For example, the width or another visual characteristic ofthe outline may be adjusted. In some embodiments, the remaining callhang time may also be indicated using color. For example, the call hangtime indicator 502 may be displayed in different colors indicating thata percentage of the call hang time remains (for example, green mayindicate that more than 50% remains, yellow may indicate that more than25% remains, and red may indicate that less than 25% remains). In someembodiments, the call hang time indicator 502 includes a glowing and/orflashing or pulsating light to indicate the remaining call hang time.For example, a colored glow may surround the outline and pulsate with afrequency indicating the countdown timer duration.

In another embodiment, electronic processor 205 visually alters the callhang time indicator 502 based on a value of the countdown time byadjusting the at least one digit based on the value of the countdowntimer. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the call hang time indicator 502 reads2.3 seconds, whereas it initially read 3.0 seconds (See FIG. 6). In suchembodiments, the call hang time indicator 502 visually indicates theactual call hang time remaining (for example, in seconds, milliseconds,or another suitable unit of time), rather than symbolically displayingthe call hang time.

In another embodiment, electronic processor 205 visually alters the callhang time indicator 502 based on a value of the countdown time byadjusting a color of the soft push-to-talk button 116 based on the valueof the countdown timer. For example, in embodiments where the call hangtime is indicated by applying a color to the soft push-to-talk button116, the color may fade from a dark to a lighter shade to indicate thereduction in call hang time. In another example, a color of the softpush-to-talk button 116 may be varied, changed, as described above withrespect to FIG. 9.

In another embodiment, electronic processor 205 visually alters the callhang time indicator 502 based on a value of the countdown time byadjusting a size of the soft push-to-talk button 116 based on the valueof the countdown timer. For example, the electronic processor 205 mayincrease the size of the soft push-to-talk button 116 to a predeterminedmaximum size based on the value of the countdown timer. For example, theelectronic processor 205 may set the size of the soft push-to-talkbutton 116 to the predetermined maximum to indicate that the call hangtime has just begun, and reduce the size of the soft push-to-talk button116 in proportion to the value of the countdown timer until the softpush-to-talk button 116 is displayed at its default size when thecountdown timer reaches zero.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor 205 generates the softpush-to-talk button 116 having a display size based on a push-to-talkselection frequency for the soft push-to-talk button 116. Thepush-to-talk selection frequency is a measure of how often a softpush-to-talk button has been selected (that is, used to initiatepush-to-talk communications) during a particular time period (forexample, the last five minutes). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11,the soft push-to-talk button 1102, the soft push-to-talk button 1104,and the soft push-to-talk button 1106 are displayed in small, medium,and large sizes, respectively. This may indicate that the softpush-to-talk button 1106 was used more frequently with respect to theother soft push-to-talk buttons, that the soft push-to-talk button 1102was used least frequently, and that the soft push-to-talk button 1104was used at some frequency in between the other two. In suchembodiments, the predetermined maximum size used to indicate call hangtime for a particular push-to-talk button may be greater than thedisplay size of the push-to-talk button, so as to more clearly indicatethe call hang time.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor 205 alters both the sizeand a color of the soft push-to-talk button 116 based on the countdowntimer.

When a push-to-talk transmission is made during the call hang time, thecall hang time resets. For example, the electronic processor 205receives, while the countdown timer is above a threshold (for example,the time is above zero), an input selecting the soft push-to-talk button116. This input transmits audio communications on the establishedpush-to-talk channel. In response to receiving the input, in addition totransmitting audio communications, the electronic processor 205 resetsthe countdown timer to the call hang time.

In some embodiments, the soft push-to-talk button is a dynamic compoundpush-to-talk button 1202 (See FIG. 12). As illustrated in FIG. 12, thedynamic compound push-to-talk button 1202 represents a combination ofthe soft push-to-talk button 1203 and the soft push-to-talk button 1205.The electronic processor 205, when it receives an input selecting thedynamic compound push-to-talk button 1202, establishes a firstpush-to-talk channel (the push-to-talk channel associated with the softpush-to-talk button 1203) and a second push-to-talk channel (thepush-to-talk channel associated with the soft push-to-talk button 1205)simultaneously via the transceiver. The dynamic compound push-to-talkbutton 1202 is dynamic, because the electronic processor 205 generatesit automatically. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when the softpush-to-talk button 1203 and the soft push-to-talk button 1205 areselected simultaneously via the inputs 1302 and 1304 to transmit audiocommunications to two users or groups of users, the electronic processor205 generates the dynamic compound push-to-talk button 1202automatically and displays in on the touch screen display 112. Thisenables a user to easily engage in subsequent push-to-talkcommunications with the same two users or groups of users by selectingonly one soft push-to-talk button. The dynamic compound push-to-talkbutton 1202 may be generated based on communications to more than twousers or groups of users and, when selected, such a dynamic compoundpush-to-talk button establishes more than two push-to-talk channelssimultaneously. In some embodiments, the network controller 110 combinespush-to-talk transmission and reception from different push-to-talkchannels into same push-to-talk channel.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor 205 generates the dynamiccompound push-to-talk button 1202 when push-to-talk audio is receivedover a push-to-talk channel established by a transmitting electroniccommunication device via a dynamic compound push-to-talk button on thetransmitting electronic communication device. In such embodiments, theelectronic processor 205 generates the dynamic compound push-to-talkbutton 1202 with the same properties as the dynamic compoundpush-to-talk button on the transmitting electronic communication device.

In embodiments that include a dynamic compound push-to-talk button, acall hang time indicator for the dynamic compound push-to-talk button1202 may be based on one or both of the call hang times for the firstpush-to-talk channel and the second push-to-talk channel. For example,the countdown timer may be set to the lower of the two call hang timesor to the value for both call hang times if they are identical.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,”“having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . .. a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,”“approximately,” “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including both software and firmware) that control the oneor more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform amethod as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

We claim:
 1. An electronic communications device, the device comprising:a transceiver; a touch screen display; and an electronic processorelectrically coupled to the transceiver and the touch screen display,the electronic processor configured to generate a graphical userinterface including a soft push-to-talk button and a call hang timeindicator, indicating visually a call hang time, in proximity to thesoft push-to-talk button; display the graphical user interface on thetouch screen display; receive, from the touch screen display, a firstinput selecting the soft push-to-talk button; and in response toreceiving the first input, establish a push-to-talk channel via thetransceiver.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic processoris further configured to receive, from the touch screen display, asecond input unselecting the soft push-to-talk button; and in responseto receiving the second input, set a countdown timer to the call hangtime; wherein the call hang time is a time period, during which thepush-to-talk channel remains available to the transceiver.
 3. The deviceof claim 2, wherein the electronic processor is further configured tovisually alter the call hang time indicator based on a value of thecountdown timer.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronicprocessor is further configured to: receive, while the countdown timeris above a threshold, a third input selecting the soft push-to-talkbutton; and in response to receiving the third input, reset thecountdown timer to the call hang time.
 5. The device of claim 3, whereinthe call hang time indicator includes at least one digit; and theelectronic processor is further configured to adjust the at least onedigit based on the value of the countdown timer.
 6. The device of claim3, wherein the call hang time indicator includes an outline of the softpush-to-talk button; and the electronic processor is further configuredto adjust at least one of a size and a color of the outline based on thevalue of the countdown timer.
 7. The device of claim 3, wherein theelectronic processor is further configured to adjust at least one of asize and a color of the soft push-to-talk button based on the value ofthe countdown timer.
 8. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronicprocessor is further configured to generate the soft push-to-talk buttonhaving a display size based on a push-to-talk selection frequency forthe soft push-to-talk button; and increase the size of the softpush-to-talk button to a predetermined maximum size based on the valueof the countdown timer; wherein the maximum size is greater than thedisplay size.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the soft push-to-talkbutton is a dynamic compound push-to-talk button, and wherein theelectronic processor is further configured to in response to receivingthe first input, establish a plurality of push-to-talk channels via thetransceiver.
 10. A method for controlling an electronic communicationsdevice including a transceiver, a touch screen display, and anelectronic processor, the method comprising: generating, with theelectronic processor, a graphical user interface including a softpush-to-talk button and a call hang time indicator, indicating visuallya call hang time, in proximity to the soft push-to-talk button;displaying the graphical user interface on the touch screen display;receiving, from the touch screen display, a first input selecting thesoft push-to-talk button; and in response to receiving the first input,establishing a push-to-talk channel via the transceiver.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: receiving, from the touch screendisplay, a second input unselecting the soft push-to-talk button; and inresponse to receiving the second input, setting a countdown timer to thecall hang time; wherein the call hang time is a time period, duringwhich the push-to-talk channel remains available to the transceiver. 12.The method of claim 11, further comprising: visually altering the callhang time indicator based on a value of the countdown timer.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: receiving, while the countdowntimer is above a threshold, a third input selecting the softpush-to-talk button; and in response to receiving the third input,resetting the countdown timer to the call hang time.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein adjusting the call hang time indicator includesadjusting at least one digit based on the value of the countdown timer.15. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the call hang timeindicator includes adjusting at least one of a size and a color of anoutline of the soft push-to-talk button based on the value of thecountdown timer.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the callhang time indicator includes adjusting at least one of a size and acolor of the soft push-to-talk button based on the value of thecountdown timer.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:generating the soft push-to-talk button having a display size based on apush-to-talk selection frequency for the soft push-to-talk button; andincreasing the size of the soft push-to-talk button to a predeterminedmaximum size based on the value of the countdown timer; wherein themaximum size is greater than the display size.
 18. The method of claim10, further comprising: in response to receiving the first input,establishing a plurality of push-to-talk channels via the transceiver;wherein generating a graphical user interface including a softpush-to-talk button includes generating a graphical user interfaceincluding a dynamic compound push-to-talk button.